Erdogan, Sharif hold talks in Istanbul amid rising South Asia tensions

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Istanbul on Sunday in an unannounced meeting, according to Erdogan’s office, amid growing regional instability in South Asia.

The Turkish presidency did not share details of the discussions. However, Erdogan’s communications director, Fahrettin Altun, earlier said on social media that the leaders would discuss bilateral relations, regional and global developments, and cooperation in the fight against terrorism.

Turkey’s foreign and defense ministers, Hakan Fidan and Yasar Guler, also attended the meeting. On the Pakistani side, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Army Chief Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, and senior adviser Syed Tariq Fatemi were present.

The meeting took place at the Dolmabahçe Palace in Istanbul. Turkish state media showed Erdogan welcoming Sharif with a formal reception before delegation-level talks began. Erdogan also hosted a dinner in honor of Sharif and his delegation.

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Both leaders share close ties, and their countries maintain strong relations rooted in shared religion, history and diplomatic cooperation.

Earlier in May, Erdogan expressed support for Pakistan following India’s military response to a deadly attack on Indian tourists in Kashmir by militants. The skirmishes led to the worst clashes between India and Pakistan in over 20 years, with more than 70 casualties before a ceasefire was reached on May 10.

While Turkey has traditionally maintained cordial relations with both India and Pakistan, Erdogan’s show of solidarity with Islamabad drew criticism in India. Several Indian retail businesses and online platforms began boycotting Turkish products in response.

The Istanbul meeting, though brief and officially undisclosed in terms of outcomes, underscores Ankara’s deepening diplomatic engagement in South Asian affairs.